How to Open Internet Explorer-Only Websites in Chrome (2026 Guide)
You open the supplier portal, the payroll system or the old intranet, and instead of the page you get a blank screen, a broken menu or a message asking for Internet Explorer. On many computers Internet Explorer no longer opens at all: Microsoft retired it and Windows 11 does not even ship the app.
The good news is that the engine behind Internet Explorer is still part of Windows. What changed is how you reach it. This guide explains why these sites break, which options you have in 2026, and how to open them directly inside Chrome.
Why some websites still only work in Internet Explorer
Many business applications were built between 2000 and 2015, when Internet Explorer was the standard browser in companies. They depend on things modern browsers removed on purpose:
- ActiveX controls for digital signatures, scanners, card readers or file uploads.
- Java applets in records systems and document archives.
- Document modes such as IE7 or IE8, where layouts and scripts only behave as intended with that old rendering.
- Proprietary scripts (VBScript, old
document.allcode) that Chrome never supported.
Rewriting these systems costs money and time, and often the vendor no longer exists. So the application keeps running and people need a way to open it.
What happened to Internet Explorer
Microsoft ended support for the Internet Explorer 11 desktop app in June 2022 and disabled it permanently through a Microsoft Edge update in February 2023. On Windows 10 it now redirects to Edge; Windows 11 does not include it.
The rendering engine (often called Trident or MSHTML) did not disappear. Microsoft keeps it inside Windows so that Edge's IE mode can work, and has committed to supporting IE mode through at least 2029. Every option in this guide relies on that engine.
Your options in 2026
| Option | Works in | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edge IE mode | Microsoft Edge only | Free | Companies that already standardise on Edge |
| Chrome Legacy Browser Support | Chrome, opens another browser | Free | IT teams that accept switching browsers |
| An IE-mode extension such as IEbridge | Chrome, Edge and Firefox | From $9.99 per computer per year | People who want to stay in their browser |
| A virtual machine with old Windows | Anywhere, through a VM | Licences and upkeep | Last resort; hard to keep secure |
Edge IE mode
If you can use Edge, IE mode is built in. An individual user can turn on Allow sites to be reloaded in Internet Explorer mode in Edge settings and reload a page in IE mode, but pages added this way expire after 30 days. For permanent rules, IT has to publish an Enterprise Mode Site List (an XML file) through group policy. It works well, but only inside Edge.
Chrome Legacy Browser Support
Chrome has no IE engine of its own. Its Legacy Browser Support policy can detect certain addresses and open them in a different browser, which today means Edge in IE mode. The site works, but the user leaves Chrome every time and ends up with two browsers, two sets of tabs and two sessions.
An IE-mode extension
An extension such as IEbridge runs the Windows IE engine inside a Chrome tab. The page keeps your address bar, your tabs and your workflow; only the rendering engine changes. Because browser extensions cannot call Windows components directly, these tools install a small companion application next to the extension.
How to open an IE-only site in Chrome with IEbridge
The whole process takes a few minutes and needs no administrator rights.
- Add the extension to Chrome from the Chrome Web Store (it is also available for Edge and Firefox).
- Install the companion application. The extension guides you to it the first time you use IE mode. Download it and run it.
- Restart the browser so the extension can find the companion application.
- Open the site in IE mode. Go to the portal and click the IEbridge icon in the toolbar, or right-click the page and choose Open this page in IE mode.
The page reloads with the Internet Explorer engine inside the same tab, with its own toolbar for back, forward, reload and the address. To return to Chrome's engine, use the button on that toolbar. The installation guide has every detail.
Make it automatic with URL rules
If you open the same portal every day, you do not want to click each time. In the options, go to Automatic URLs, turn them on and add the portal's address. From then on, that site always opens in IE mode. You can also:
- Pin a document mode (IE7 to IE11) for one address, in case a portal only works with one version.
- Add exceptions for parts of a portal that already work in Chrome.
- Export and import the list as an Excel workbook to share it with colleagues.
We explain rules in depth in How to use Internet Explorer mode in Chrome.
Common problems and quick fixes
Nothing happens when I click the icon. The companion application is missing, or the browser was not restarted after installing it. The extension opens a screen that detects it and confirms as soon as it is ready.
The page loads but looks broken or shows a script error. Change the document mode for that site. Many older portals expect IE8 or IE7 rather than IE11.
The ActiveX control does not load. The control itself has to be installed in Windows, exactly as it was with Internet Explorer. Install the vendor's component and reload the page.
I have to log in again. IEbridge shares cookies with the IE engine, so in most portals you stay signed in. If a portal uses its own login inside the old page, sign in once in IE mode and it will be remembered.
IE mode runs the old engine with today's Windows security updates, but the sites you open are still old code. Use it for the applications that need it, not as your everyday browser.
Which option should you choose?
- You already use Edge across the company and have IT staff to maintain a site list: Edge IE mode is free and solid.
- You want to stay in Chrome or Firefox, or you are a small team without someone to manage group policy: an IE-mode extension is the fastest route.
- You need it on many computers with central control: look at an extension that supports group policy, such as IEbridge Enterprise, so the rules reach every computer without visiting them.
If you are comparing tools, read our honest look at IE Tab alternatives and the side-by-side IEbridge vs IE Tab vs Edge IE mode.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still download Internet Explorer?
No. Microsoft no longer offers Internet Explorer 11 for current versions of Windows, and Windows 11 does not include it. The engine still exists inside Windows and is what IE mode tools use.
Does Chrome have an Internet Explorer mode?
Not built in. Chrome can redirect sites to another browser with Legacy Browser Support, or you can add an extension that runs the IE engine inside a Chrome tab.
Does this work on a Mac or on Linux?
No. The Internet Explorer engine is part of Windows, so every real IE mode solution needs a Windows computer.
Is it free?
Edge IE mode is free. IEbridge has a 30-day free trial with every feature, no card and no account; after that it costs $9.99 per computer per year.
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